Another Kat reigns big in Texas as FMU beats Barry 1-0 in 14 innings at NCAA Softball Finals

HOUSTON, TX – Sophomore third baseman Kat Beauvais’ two-out single scored Monica Wofford in the bottom of the 14th inning and lifted Francis Marion University to a 1-0 win over third-ranked Barry University, Thursday (May 15) in an elimination game at the NCAA Division II Women’s Softball National Finals.

Francis Marion improves to 39-15, the third-highest win total in school history, and the Patriots advance to face the loser of Emporia State University and Humboldt State University on Friday at 11 a.m. (Eastern time). The game will be televised on CBS College Sports (formerly CSTV), Time Warner Cable channel 150 in Florence. Barry ends its season at 44-8 as the Buccaneers scored in only one of 21 innings at the finals.

With one out in the bottom of the 14th, Wofford was hit by a pitch for the 55th time in her career, extending her Division II all-time record. She moved to second on a ground out to shortstop by Wolf. Beauvais, who was 0-for-4 with three strikeouts in previous at bats, lined the first pitch she saw from Barry lefty Amber Jack (30-3) over the shortstop’s glove into shallow left centerfield scoring Wofford easily.

FMU sophomore southpaw Michaela Wolf (29-12) pitched perhaps the best game of her career. She allowed only five hits, only two over the final seven frames, struck out nine and walked only one.

She was helped out by several outstanding defensive plays. Centerfielder Lakyn Bendle made several nice catches including a head-first diving catch in shallow left center. Right fielder Stevie Arrand threw out a Barry batter at first base on a lined shot to right field, and the middle infield pair of Shannan Tyson and Allie Aleman turned a pair of double plays. Wolf also caught several come-backers to the mound and battery mate Kayla Ruede turned several Barry bunt attempts into outs at first.

Jack allowed seven hits, fanned eight, and walked no one.

FMU’s best other opportunity to end the scoreless marathon came in the last of eighth when the Patriots had runners on second and third with one out. However, Jack retired Tyson and Bendle on pop ups. Tyson was the only Patriot to have multiple hits as she went 2-for-5, including her 21st double, tying the team season record set by Ginger Miller in 2001.

Designated player Megan Young was 2-for-5 with a double to pace Barry.

The game started at 10 a.m. local time, was interrupted for 45 minutes by lightning, and ended at nearly 2 p.m.

Boxscore

“I am so proud of Kat,” said Francis Marion head coach Stacey Vallee. “Not so much because she got the winning hit, but because she kept her head in the game despite some poor at bats earlier.

“Team comes before I, and today every position contributed great defense – not good defense, great defensive plays. Smallz (Michaela Wolf) pitched an awesome game, and the players fought hard to stay alive in the tournament.”

With the win, Vallee also defeated her alma mater for the first time. She played softball for the Buccaneers.